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Rideshare drivers come in all different packages. They can range from talkative, quiet, warm, funny, knowledgeable, conscientious, and so much more because they are people, and people are unique. Unfortunately, not all rideshare drivers are ten out of ten fantastic. Occasionally, a driver will be bad, and bad to the point a passenger feels uncomfortable. Whether it is the driving or the actual person, not feeling comfortable in a car where you have little control is not a fun feeling. This is a terrible situation to be in, but there are things you can do.
If you feel uncomfortable at anytime during the ride because of the driver, ask them to pull over. You do not have to be in the car with them. You are paying them to complete a service for you. Ask the driver to pull over, and then, get out of the car. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Follow your gut and your feelings. There is a reason you are uncomfortable in the situation.
If you are riding in an Uber, and you feel uncomfortable or uneasy use their safety toolkit, which can be found by tapping the shield icon in your Uber app. This allows you to share your trip with loved ones, easily contact 911, and verify your drivers info. It is always important to verify your driver BEFORE you get in your ride. Follow these steps to ensure that you are getting in the correct rideshare vehicle. Some key tips are to check the car's license plate, make and model, asking your driver's name, and to ensure that the child safety lock is not clicked on before getting in your rideshare vehicle.
Conversations can be great. They can also be annoying or uncomfortable. If the driver is making you uncomfortable by talking or the conversation, there are a few things you can do. You can be blunt and say, “I’m not much of a talker,” or “I have some emails I need to attend to,” or “Do you mind just letting me look out the window?” Being blunt will put an end to the conversation. If you would rather hint, ask the driver to turn on or turn up the music. This is a subtle, not-so-subtle hint you would rather not chat.
If you are in danger, call 911 immediately. Do not hesitate to make the call if you feel it is necessary. Your safety is the most important thing.
One of the great things about cell phones is how easy it is to communicate with people. If you feel uncomfortable, let your friends or family know your ride details and ask them to check in on you around the time you should be reaching your destination.
Rideshares should know about drivers who put their customers in uncomfortable or dangerous situations, so it is important that you report these drivers and situations. Through Uber, you can file a complaint through the “Trip Issues and Adjustments” page. For Lyft, you can file through the “Help Page.” Lyft does a good job at keeping people’s identities private and following up on any complaint made about their drivers.
When you feel uncomfortable, do something to remedy the situation. Always file a report on that driver, so no one else has to be put in a similar situation.
RIDEGURU
Comments
I think you are dead on with this, but also remember that a driver has the same rights if they feel like the passenger is making them feel unsafe or putting them in a bad situation. By this I mean being abusive, doing drugs, acting out wildly, attempting coitus, vandalizing the car, or even directly threatening the driver. I would also add extremely poor hygiene or dirty/wet to the point of damaging the inside of the car or making it impossible to continue working with out remedy. Most passengers are nice and they as diverse... as a driver, there have been stressful days where I wonder if the next passenger is going to be the one. This all goes with out saying... but I think it also helps to put things in perspective... There is potential for good and bad in everyone. Drivers encounter a lot more riders than riders encounter drivers. We should weed out the bad riders and passengers.